Here's to slow starts 🥂 (+ a prompt for your marketing)
Hi there,
Have you ever had one of those dreams where you're trying to run but you keep tripping over your own feet?
It feels like trying to run through sand, or like your ankles are tied together. I've heard that this happens because of the blankets around your legs, but don't quote me on that.
That's how this year has felt so far, and I don't get the impression that I'm alone in this—it's not quite the out-of-the-gate new year start that we're always sold.
When you're a business owner, creator, freelancer, etc, this kind of slow start can feel pretty alarming.
For me, I know that if I haven't been sending emails, I'll likely feel it in a few weeks with a bit of a lighter workload than is comfortable.
And yet, as we're all coming to collectively understand, as important as income is to our survival, success is so much more than that. It's a hard balance to strike, but more on that another time.
So what have I been doing these past couple weeks?
Reflecting, journaling, getting to know my new tarot deck from The Forager's Daughter (it's gorgeous).
I'm not an astrologer, but I pay attention enough to know that Mars stationed direct yesterday. It's a transit that I've experienced rather deeply—both externally and internally (in all the 12th house ways)—and I'm very excited to see it coming to an end. It feels like a clearing—like we'll finally start to clear the muck from around our ankles and gain some traction.
Honestly, I have a really good feeling about 2023, so this slow start is nothing that warrants any regret or negative self-talk.
If you've also been feeling this sluggish energy, I invite you to ask yourself: "What if nothing's gone wrong?" This question didn't originate with me—I attribute it to Kara Lowentheil—but it's a favorite thought of mine whenever I start to doubt myself. It invites curiosity instead of shame. And maybe a bit of restful reflection is exactly what we needed.
But, this is a newsletter about marketing!
✨So here's a messaging prompt for all the creative business owners out there:✨
As you plan your next batch of content, I invite you to get a bit reflective with your audience. What has happened for you over this Mars retrograde (think back to October or a bit before) and what have you learned? What effect has that had on your business or do you anticipate it will have? Even if the past few months have been more of a personal transformation for you (as it has been for me), I bet it will change how you do things. Journal on it, and anything you're comfortable sharing with your audience, do it.
And remember, once you have something written, you can schedule a free 1:1 copy review session with me right here, no strings attached. I hope to chat soon.
